Southport – April 13, 2017
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait & Tackle, reports that there are a few flounder inshore that are being caught on live bait as well as artificials.
The speckled trout and red drum are becoming more active, and live bait, along with Falling Tide lures, are working to land the fish.
Those throwing shrimp in the creeks and backwater should connect with black drum.
Bluefish have been landed off the shoals, and sheephead have been caught at the ADM pier on fiddler crabs and sand fleas.
The Virginia mullet are still chewing, and they’re falling for a double-drop bottom rig with bait shrimp or bloodworms.
The cobia and spanish should show up any day, following close behind the blues.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still catching whiting in the mouth of the river, and they’re now starting to come around to the surf. Anglers in the surf are also catching croakers and pufferfish.
Anglers are connecting with trout in the backwaters and black sea bass offshore.
Jacob, of J&J Inshore Charters, reports that the whiting are biting well in the inlets, and anglers that are wanting to target them should use cut shrimp.
The speckled trout are being landed on artificials, with chartreuse and white being the preferred colors.
The red drum are still back in the creeks, and the best way to connect with them is with live mud minnows, or live mullet minnows for those willing to put in the time to find them.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that whiting are still biting at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, but as the water temperatures warm, sharks are slowly getting into the mix.
There are keeper black sea bass on the nearshore hangouts. They are becoming harder to come by, but larger fish are coming over the rails from deeper water spots.
The water temperature is 65 degrees, and king mackerel, spanish mackerel, and cobia should be moving towards the beaches shortly.
Wally, of Oak Island Charters, reports that the kings are about 25 miles out and can be landed on cigar minnows.
Those looking for black sea bass should find them jigging 20 miles out.
Anglers traveling to the Gulf Stream should pack ballyhoo to troll for wahoo.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that the trout bite has slowed down with the warm weather.
The flounder are starting to move in down by the inlet, but the bonito have yet to move into area waters.
Offshore, the wahoo and blackfin bite has been great, with bottom fishing picking up as well.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with the usual fish, like croakers, whiting, and pufferfish. Trout are still being landed, and bluefish have shown up as well.
